Speaking: From 2028, how should we set up the preparation room for the speaking exam?

From 2028, candidates will be permitted to make notes during the 10 minute preparation period.

To accommodate this, centres will need to allocate a dedicated space or room where candidates can prepare under exam conditions. There must be an invigilator present at all times.

The ideal set up should include:

For students:

- a desk and chair
- spare pencils or pens
- blank sheets of paper
- space to leave bags and other belongings

For the invigilator:

- a clock
- a timer
- a register and timetable

The preparation room should be in a quiet part of the school, away from where other lessons or activities are taking place. Candidates must not talk to each other.

Ideally, there will also be an additional space or room that can be used as a waiting area for candidates waiting to prepare/ take the exam.

If you have two teachers running exams on the same day, the same preparation room may be used for both as long as desks are spaced far apart and candidates do not interact. As mentioned above, an invigilator must be present at all times to supervise this.